PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : ORANGE LEAGUE : Mueller Leads Western Past Anaheim

Anaheim and Western are headed in opposite directions, but the game was closer than their records might have indicated.

The Colonists had Reuben Droughns, Orange County’s third all-time leading rusher, but it was Western’s unheralded Mike Mueller who stole the show.

Mueller scored five touchdowns--three rushing, two receiving--to keep Western undefeated this season with a 38-27 Orange League victory over Anaheim Friday at Glover Stadium.

Mueller rushed 10 times for 96 yards, and caught two touchdowns for 96 yards for the Pioneers (8-0, 3-0), who are tied for first place with Brea Olinda. They face each other in the last game of the season.

It was a disappointing night for Anaheim (1-7, 0-3), which had a 21-14 halftime lead but couldn’t keep it in the second half.

“We’re a two-platoon team,” Western Coach Jim Howell said. “I think that helped some. And we were able to isolate Mueller in the second half.”

After moving Mueller, a running back, out wide, the Pioneers scored 17 consecutive points--touchdown passes of 37 and 57 yards from Dean Chambers to Mueller, and a 22-yard field goal by David Bell.

Anaheim came as close as four points, 31-27, on Droughns’ four-yard run with 2 minutes 34 seconds left in the game.

The Colonists went for a two-point conversion in hopes of winning the game with a field goal, but Luis Gomez’s pass sailed off-target as he was knocked to the ground.

Then Mueller put the game away. He ran 40 yards from his 47, and then went seven yards to score over the right side with 1:21 to go.

“He didn’t play at all last year,” Howell said. “He was one of about six seniors who didn’t play their junior year. We knew he was really good, but we didn’t know how good.”

Mueller went into the game with 284 yards and a 5.6 average. Teammate Sergio Garcia rushed 10 times for 88 yards and quarterback Chambers completed six of 12 passes for 180 yards.

Droughns had a tough night, rushing 27 times for 84 yards. He scored three times--including the first play of the game on a bit of trickery.

Droughns took a pitch from Gomez and handed to Jose Rodriguez, who then pitched back to Gomez--who threw to Droughns racing down the sidelines for an 80-yard touchdown play. It served notice the Colonists wouldn’t be pushovers.

Gomez, who was hit hard and often, especially in the second half, finished 15 for 28 for 288 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for a touchdown.